Recognising behavioural signs of pain in dogs enables earlier veterinary intervention and improved welfare outcomes, as dogs routinely mask pain using instinctive strategies that can mislead owners.
The instinct of dogs to mask pain evolved as a survival strategy but creates a significant welfare gap in companion animals. Dogs in moderate to severe chronic pain continue to eat, interact socially, and perform routine activities, misleading owners into believing the animal is comfortable. Subtle signs including decreased engagement with play, slower rising from rest, unwillingness to jump into cars, and changed social interactions are often the only external evidence of significant ongoing pain. Teaching owners to recognise these signs and to use them as triggers for veterinary assessment substantially improves the likelihood of early pain diagnosis and treatment.